Caterpillar-tractor.



A. E. MILLER. CATERPILLAR TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3h 1914- I Lfi%@ 68& Patented June 5,1917,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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wav W m ylg A. E. MILLER.

CATERPILLAR TRACT OR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG3M I914.

wmsam W [mi/www- ARTHUR "E. llKlELLEEt, Q35 Nilh'llil'ltlll l, EUWA,ASQI GNQJR, TO THE Gr. W. PARSONS COMPANY,

- 'tllli NEWTON, IQWA.

EhTERPILLAPr-TZRACTOR.

application filed August ill, will.

T0015 whom if may concern."

Be it known that l, ARTHUR E. MILLER,

a citizen of the United States and resident on the rear axle as topermita free tilting of the main frame on said rear axle.

My invention consists in certain details,

in the construction, combination and Elf-n rangement of the variousparts of the de vice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth pointed out in my claims andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan View of a caterpillar tractor, embodying myinvention, and

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig.l.

Heretofore in the building of caterpillar tractors, one great objectionto the use of the caterpillar wheel has been found in the diffi culty ofbuilding; a device so mounted on the frame as to be able to make turnswith the device. Numerous expedients have been employed for producing adevice in which the lateral twist on the caterpillar wheels could beeliminated. This is usually done by securing the frames which carry theparts of the caterpillar wheel rigidly to the main frame. Such aconstruction destroys the three point suspension of the mainframe andthe machinery mounted thereon and imparts a tremendous twisting strainto the parts while in service. Such a rigid con-- nection of thesmallframes which carry the caterpillar wheel members with the mainframe also prevents any tilting of the main frame with relation totherear axle in some cases and generally prevents tilting of the mainframe with relation to the caterpillar wheels, thereby largelydestroying the efieo tiveness of the latter.

specification ofLctters Patent.

Batented June 5, '3.

derial lilo. 859,541.

All of these difficulties 1 have avoided by my method of constructing;and mounting my caterpillar tractor, one form of which is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings. l have used the reference numeral toindicate the longitudinal parts of the main frame/of the machine. Theparts 10 are connected by transverse members l1, l2 and 13. At theirforward ends the members 10 are secured to inwardly and forwardlyinclined members 14 which are supported at their forward ends by abracket 15 on a connecting de vice 16, which is mounted on the forwardaxle 17. The bracket 15' is connected with the members 14 by means of abolt 18, which permits slight lateral tilting of the forward axle withrelation to the main frame of the machine.

Connected with the forward axle are stub axles 19 on which are wheels20. it will be understood that the stub axles are pivoted tomove inhorizontal planes so that the front wheels may be steered by ordinarysteering mechanism used in motor cars and indicated generally thereference characters 21, 22 and 23. .Mounted on the maid frame ofthemachine is an engine 24:. In the rear part of the machine is atransverse axleQ, on each end of which ismounted a large wheel 26, whichis the large central wheel of the cater pillar. There is a caterpillardevice at each end of the axle 25, comprising the large wheel 26 and theother parts now to be de-- scribed.

Suitably mounted with relation to the axle Q5 and to permit tilting;with relation thereto, are smaller frames 27 which extend readwardly andforwardly from the wheel 26 below the level of the axle 25. Mounted inthe forward ends of the frames 2'7 are short transverse shafts 28, onwhich are mounted sprockets orsimilar devices 29. The large Wheels 26are provided with some sort of sprocket device 30. An endless track 31travels over the large wheel 26 and the sprockets 29. Mounted on theouter ends.of the axle are forwardly extending: frame members 32 whichare connected at their forward ends in front of the wheels 26 by meansof a transverse frame member 33, preferably channel shaped, as shown inFig. 2.

The member 33 is preferably secured to chine serve to brace members 10and. "w the frame actually (lone in some 'i' ably mi the cene isprevented.

the axle gears elO. v I 10 are alined shale members 41 and 42. A

the Swine members 10 parallel with the pillar llwicior it,

the members Secmerl cc Elie L 'DIWQTCl ends of tin I: l erespective inhe member 33 a e Clownmuwlly extcnc brace membex l. desigzieil io engagecic ouicr pints .I we lorvvmxl ends of the rames 2'2, ii QCULQll tofihe'frznne 'n'zliei' 33 ere downwardly extending brace members 35,zulepie il to engage the in i parts of" forward ends o cheinner mie'IllQllllMlS 2?, as clearly ilnsmrated infligzwli llhe meml 3 and onezugliside m? the 111w he i'z-mnes 2'? and: the caterpillar devices for'n'eyenting laieml movecrient thereof without interfering v 'li thelilting movement oi ihe main frame andof the. caterpillar devices withrelation to the axle Where dc ed, the members ill and may be dispensedwith is 'ms ofmy clevice. 11" may also be braced. 1cm; in the followingThe caierpillar '1 against lateral move manner. i I

Suitably mounted, (E1 the Lllx'lfi 25, prefer- 1* thereof, a collar U11the collm' l is r-coiwvzudly extending bracket or arm which is secm'edto fl sliding movement of the collar The cellar 36 lug I D rwar :mclcum" machifie and n ref to innei parts frames 2 '2" been their ioeiweiidemls, shown'in Fig. 1 "1 be seen fihai arms 39 brace c s lair era];swinging i' icvein mim f -l'11le the same time permitting free tiltingmcvemcnc 0i saidcaterpillcr frames 9'? .i ith celeiion to Formed oi:mou'ctecl on the wl1eels 26 are Mounted on the frame membersseconiflitransvcrsc shaft mounted on shaftll and onszlicl shaft ismounted a, gear 4A. A differential 11 operativcly connects the shafcmembers {i1 and with each other and with the (in the shaft 18 is a.beveled gear 415 in mesh with il'ie beveled on tlaslmft 4:8 operated 'Gnthefsnatlts all and. which "mess with die rc- Jami to impose :i grew?arisen .fl'cm Hoe difficulty of securing a three point suspension andthe ccnsequent rec-king and s'mining of the 1 me of the machine.

The caterpillar constg'glction has been found have laicge number ofimporisen s advantages, QSQfiCiilllf] in firzn' 'elingever soft ground,on. account of the broad supporting base of tie caterpillar wheel madthe large t-mclicii ares Whic 1: can be employed in advancing illltraction levice over the grom iil, The shape of the-caterpillar Wheeland broml and 3 aveiy low; In making nn-cs, the lateral and twist of theccier illzu' wheel on the axle is tremendous 'amleven in imveliiigstraight forward the wheels tcml to swing out of :1 direct line on theaxle. vc1;portingthe smell Wheels at each mo of the catcipillar deviceare 1 gully connected .Xiiiliillclfifiifi frame of the machine thelateral strain is somewlmt Goncfzm'ay Wits but any vertical tiltl mainframe iili relat on to the m: or of he caterpillar "be main frameimposes severe up own the main frame cf the Rec Another (lisaclvamtageof such it rigid concoction/is found'incthe fact their-ordinarily ii is'mlvzmtegeous for the caterpillar device to able to tilt vertically soas to always present a broad surface to the ground, This cannot alwaysbe done if the frame which supports ike small Wheels, of the caterpillarisrig'idly ccnnected with the main frame of the machine.

lb will readily be seen that'wherc, such a rigiil connection is used, ifthe caterpillar should strike a stone and be raised from the ground, itcould not tilt downwardly so that a portion of its endless track wouldgrip the grouncllmt would remain in the air over the sione untilthestone was passed. Such a machine lacks the flexibility which is highlydesirable in any traction gievice designed for travel over ordinaryroads or ground in the field.

With my device it Will be. noted film-is on account of the constructionof ihe caterpillar device the endless track 31 is inclinetl-from itsrarnsverse miclclle line on its under surface upwerclly and forwel dlyand upwardly and TSfiT'iWrl-ldlY. Such a construction assists inreducing the difficult lateral twis; in male ing churn. The method or.mounting my caterpillar Wheels on she axle and mounting the main frameon the front axle retains all the advan'fiegcs of the thrcepointsuspension whiclicrc ell known and gives a; ccmpletc gg I with relaaover r011 gh I is generally. SLlClflllill it is'releaively long massesand proper flexibility to the machine while retaining all the advantagesof the catcrpillar tractor. i

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of theconstruction of such a device and in fact I have made my caterpillartractor in a number of forms, in-

eluding for instance, a large, heavy ditching machine and a lightertractor for plowing orchards. It is, however, my intention to cover bythis application any such changes of construction which retain theadvantages of flexibility and three point suspension in combination withcaterpillar wheels, which may be included within the scope of my claims.v

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one end of said frame to permit lateral tilting of theframe with relation to said wheel, an axle mounted on said frame nearthe other end thereof to permit vertical tilting of said frame,caterpillar traction devices mounted on the ends of said axle andvertically tiltable at all times with relation thereto, a source ofpower On said frame, gearing devices for imparting motion from saidsource of power to said caterpillar traction devices in all positions ofthe tilting movement of said main frame with relation to said axle, andguide devices on said frame for enga ing said caterpillar devices andpreventing the lateral swinging movement thereof, without interferingwith the tilting movement of said caterpillar devices.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one end of said frame to permit lateral tilting of theframe with relation to said wheel, an axle mounted on said frame nearthe other end thereof to permit vertical tilting of said frame,caterpillar traction devices mounted ,on the ends of said axle andvertically tiltable with relation thereto, each of said caterpillartraction devices including a large wheel mounted on the axle, a smallerframe mounted on the axle and extending forwardly and rearwardlv fromsaid large wheel, small wheels mounted in the ends of said smaller framein front and in rear of said large wheel, and an endless track travelingover the wheels of each caterpillar traction wheel.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one end of said frame to permit lateral tilting of theframe with relation to said wheel, an axle mounted on said frame nearthe other end thereof to permit vertical tilting of said frame,caterpillar traction devices mounted on the ends of said axle andvertically tiltable with relation thereto, each of said caterpillartraction devices including a large wheel mounted on the axle, a smallerframe said smaller frame in front and in rear of I said large wheel, andan endless track traveling over the wheels of each caterpillar tractiondevice, said smaller wheels being below the level of saidaxle and thelower peripheries of said smaller wheels being above the level of thelower part of said-large wheel, so that said endless track is slightlyinclined from its lower point below the large wheel upwardly andforwardly, and rearwardly and upwardly, when the device is in normalposition.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one end of said frame to permit lateral tilting of theframe with relation to said wheel, an axle mounted on said frame nearthe other end thereof to permit vertical tilting of said frame,caterpillar traction wheels mounted on the ends of said axle andvertically tiltable with relation thereto, each of said caterpillartraction wheels including a large wheel mounted on the axle, a smallerframe mounted on the axle and extending forwardly and rearwardly fromsaid large wheel, small wheels mounted in the endsof said smaller framein front and in rear of said large wheel, an endless track travelingover the wheels of each caterpillar traction wheel, and means forengaging said smaller frame for preventing the caterpillar tractionwheels from swinging laterally with relation to the main frame and forthereby reducing the twisting strain on the axle, said means being soconstructed as not to inter fere with the three point suspension of themain frame. a

5. In a. device of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one end of said frame to permit lateral tilting of theframe with relation to said wheel, an axle mounted on said frame nearthe other end thereof to permit vertical tilting of said frame,caterpillar traction wheels mounted on'the ends of said axle andvertically tiltable with relation thereto, each of said caterpillartraction wheels including a large wheel mounted on the axle, a smallerframe suitably mounted on the axle and extending forwardly andrearwardly from said large wheel, small wheels mounted in the ends ofsaid smaller frame in front and in rear of said large wheel, an endlesstrack traveling over the wheels of said caterpillar traction wheel, acollar mounted on said axle to permit the rotation of said axle withinsaid collar, means for seeming said 'COlltl To the main frame, and meansfor securing said collar to said smaller frames for preventing thelateral movement of said smaller frames and permitting vertical tiltingmovement thereof.

"6. In a device of the class des efibed, the-' coinbination with aframe; Wheeled means engaging said frame at a s nglepoint of suspensionat one end, an axle extending tranS-.

vei'sely of the opposite end of said frame and upon which said frame issupported, caterpillar traction devices mounted upon the outer ends ofsaid axle, each ofv said devices comprising a large traction wheel journaled upon said axle, a substantially triangular frame hung upon saidaxle and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof,' smaller Wheelsjournaled in the opposite ends. 10f said frame, and an endless trackpassing over the wheels of each frame said frames being free to tiltvertically upon said axle;

7. In a deviee of the class described, a frame, a supporting wheelmounted near one endof said frameto permit lateral tilting of the framewith relation to said wheel, an I axle mounted on said frame near theother Copies of this patent may be obtained for Laas ees said frame,caterpillar traction devices tn said eaterpillai' traction devices eachhavingfa frame and movable members, a brace connected with each of saidlast named and ithereoif to permit Vertical, tilting of moimted on theends of said axle and vertieally'tiltahle at all times with relationthereframes and extending toward the eentral I portion of said axle andpivotally mounted on said axle, a source of power on said Ii'rame,gearingdevices for imparting mo tion from said source of power to saideaten pillar traction devices in all positions of the five cents each,byadfir e ssingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washingtomfljk? tiltingmovement of said main frame with 3 5

